Combination venetian blind and window



A. s. KLOPSTAD 3,128,823

COMBINATION VENETIAN BLIND AND WINDOW 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 14, 1964 Filed May 15', 1961 77 ORNEY April 14, 1964 s, KLQPSVTAD 3,128,823

COMBINATION VENETIAN BLIND AND WINDOW Filed May 15, 1961 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 53 /0 l7 go 5 2 2 1 1 o l0 IO 54 :q 31 39 38 i Q w I IN VEN TOR.

3,128,823 Patented Apr. 14, 1964 filice 3,128,823 CQMBINA'IIUN VENETIAN BLIND AND WINDUW Arnold S. Iilopstad, Baltic, S. Dak. Filed May 15, 1961, Ser. No. 109,999 2 Claims. ((31. hid-34) My invention relates to a combination Venetian blind and window.

An object of my invention is to provide a window having a pair of spaced glass panes therein, and wherein these spaced glass panes will provide insulating and other desirable features and to further provide a Venetian type blind structure between the panes, and which Venetian blind structure can be readily controlled from the outside of the window by very simple operations.

A further object of my invention is to provide a window of this type which is simplified in construction, and which includes special means for angularly positioning or closing the Venetian blind slats of the arrangement in a very simple structure.

A further object of my invention is to provide a modified form which will accomplish the same objectives, and which can be operated electrically.

A further object of my invention is to provide a structure which can be readily accommodated to standard wall constructions.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a forward elevation of my combination window and Venetian blind,

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1, with parts broken away,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail,

FIGURE 4 is a further enlarged detail,

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail showing specifically the magnetic slat tipping arrangement,

FIGURE 6 is a further detail,

FIGURE 7 is a further detail showing the slats in closed position,

FIGURE 8 is a detail of the coiled spring arrangement,

FIGURE 9 is a forward elevation of a modification,

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view of FIGURE 9 taken along the lines 1tl-16 thereof,

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged detail,

FIGURE 12 is a further detail,

FIGURE 13 is a further enlarged detail,

FIGURE 14 is a schematic view of the electrical circuit, and

FIGURE 15 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the lines 15-15 of FIGURE 9.

My invention contemplates the provision of a Venetian blind and glass pane structure having a variety of advantages.

I have used the character 19 to designate a side framework portion, the character 11 indicating the framework portion at the other side, these framework portions being adapted to tightly receive the pair of glass window panes 12 and 13 which are securely sealed so that the space between the panes is air-tight. I have used the characters 14 and 15 to indicate upper and lower framework portions respectively, to which portions the upper and lower edges of the glass panes are attached.

Attached as at 16 to the side framework members It) and 11 are the lengthened bars or strips 17 and 18, the strips 17 including a suitable lengthened slot 19 therein, the lower strip 13 including the same type of slot (see FIGURE 4).

Received in the upper slot 19 are the short pins 20 (see FIGURE 3) which are attached to the expanded heads 21 which serve to support the slat arrangements, the slats being indicated by the character 22, and attached at the lower end of the slats 22 are further similar pins 20, which pins, however, do not require the expanded heads 21.

Secured at 23 to projecting portions of the members 10 and 11 is an upper transverse rod 24, and a lower transverse rod 25. Receiving these rods is an upper magnetic material block 26 and a lower magnetic material block 27, with the rods 24 and 25 being non-magnetic, the blocks 26 and 27 being attached to the pair of rods 28. Attached to the rods 28 and substantially midway thereof is a handle member 29.

The end-most slat 22, or the slat to the right in FIG- URE 1, includes a vertical shaft 30 attached thereto, and this slat includes a pair of vertically spaced ears 31 freely received on the shaft 30. Attached to the ends of the shaft 30 (see FIGURE 5) are the substantially rectangular blocks 32 which ride in the slots 19, and attached to the shaft 30 at the ends thereof are the arms 33 which are attached to the iron or other magnetic armatures 34.

The blocks 26 and 27 are preferably made of alnico material.

The end-most slat 22 also includes the small bosses 35 attached thereto, which bosses include the sloping faces 36, and attached as at 37 to the side member 11 are the horizontally positioned posts 38. Journalled at the ends of the posts 38 are the small rollers 39.

Attached along the edges of the various slats 22, or slightly interiorly of the edges, are the small chains 40.

The left-hand slat 22 (see FIGURE 4) includes a further lengthened shaft 41 attached thereto, the shaft 41 being received in openings in the strips 17 and 13, whereby this slat will be locked against movement to the right but will be free to rotate. Secured at 42 (see FIGURE 8) to the lower end of the shaft 41 is a coiled helical spring 43 which is secured as at 44 to the lower member 18, this spring normally maintaining the left-hand slat in neutral position, but providing a spring-biased action when the slat rotates in the direction of the arrow 45 in FIG- URE 6.

The blind is operated in the following manner. When the handle 29 is moved in the direction of the arrow 46, the two magnetic blocks 26 and 27 will, due to the attraction of the armatures 34, carry the slat structure toward the left, so that in this way the slats can be completely moved to the left to keep the window completely clear if such is desired.

The handle member 29, which is rigidly secured to the blocks 26 and 27 by means of the bars 28, will provide a rigid structure so that the attractive forces will be applied simultaneously at the top and bottom, and if desired, the rods 28 can be replaced by a solid strap or other structure.

When it is desired to close the slat structure to the position shown in FIGURE 1, the handle 29 will be moved in the direction of the arrow 47 (see FIGURE 7) until it occupies the position shown, and whereby the slat structure will be carried to this position.

Next, if it is desired to partially close the slats, this is done by merely moving the handle 29 alittle farther toward the right as viewed in FIGURE 1, and due to this movement, the rollers 39 at the end of the posts 38 will abut against the bosses 35, and during this action the right-hand slat 22 will move in the direction of the arrow 45, and since the chains are connected as shown, the further slats will move simultaneously in the same direction and to the same degree of motion. Therefore, this additional slight movement will provide an adjustment for closing the slats when desired.

Additional closing of the slats will also cause the rollers 3 39 to ride along the tapered faces 36 of the bosses 35 as shown in FIGURE 7, this providing means whereby the olf-set arrangement of the posts 38 will be compensated so that the slats 22 will be tightly engaged along their edges, providing a complete and satisfactory closure.

If desired, the end portions 48 of the rods 24 and 25 can be made of magnetic material where the blocks 26 are received thereon to provide a limited magnetic action, which will insure that the blocks 26 and 27 will not spring out of position at the adjusting points, or the arrangement can be kept more or less static at this position by using a frictional engagement between the blocks and the rods. The spring 43 will maintain the spring effect so that the slats will open and close uniformly.

FIGURES 9 to 15 inclusive indicate a further modification and in this modification identical characters indicate identical parts, and wherein the posts 38 etc. are used in an analogous manner, however, in this modification I have used the characters 49 and 50 to indicate upper and lower small fractional horse-power electric motors which can be suitably geared down if desired, these motors driving the upper and lower sprockets 51. Engaging these sprockets 51 are the sprocket chains 52 which in turn pass over the end sprockets 53 journalled in the brackets 54.

The right-hand slat 22 includes a shaft 55 which passes through the upper and lower strips 17 and 18, the shaft 55 including the extending portions 56 suitably received in the openings 57 in the lugs 58 which are secured to the upper and lower sprocket chains 52, so that then the electric motors are actuated, the entire assembly will be moved to the left or right as desired, the character 59 indicating a toggle switch which can be thrown to the left or right, the motors 49 and 50 being reversible so that these switches will thereby provide the closing effect to the slats, or the opening effect. Also, to close the slats gradually, an additional switch 60 is provided, which is of the push-button type, the switch 60 merely being touched repeatedly when the toggle switch 59 is thrown to the right, whereupon these slight impulses at the switch 60 will gradually close the slats in a movement which is uniform and which can be readily controlled by the operator.

FIGURE 14 illustrates the circuit in a general sense, it being understood, however, that any type of circuit can be used as long as it reverses the motors in the proper manner and as long as the switch 60 can be used in connection therewith for providing the slight impulses. It should also be noted that the upper motor 49 will rotate in the opposite direction to the motor 50, when carrying the slats in one direction, due to the connection of the right-hand slat 22 to the bottom of the upper sprocket chain arrangement, and to the top of the lower arrangement, the circuit, however, being arranged to take care of this feature.

These types of windows can be used in substantially any environment, they can be of the type which pivot at their upper ends, etc., and also it should be understood that my mechanisms could be employed on windows not having the double glass panes, especially the motor driven arrangement, and it should also be understood that various other modifications could be employed and certain slight changes could be made without departing from the essential spirit of my invention. It will now be seen that I have provided the advantages mentioned in the objects of my invention with further advantages being apparent.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. A combination Venetian blind and window comprising a framework, a pair of spaced sheets of glass secured within said framework, a plurality of vertically positioned slats arranged between said sheets of glass, means for supporting said vertically positioned slats including an upper track and a lower track, chains attached to the upper and lower edges of said slats for securing said slats together, means for moving all of said slats to one side of said framework including magnetic members attached to an end slat, said end slat being pivotally mounted, further magnetic members positioned outside of said framework, means for moving said further magnetic members whereby said magnetic members will be moved to thereby move all of said slats, said magnetic members including arms attached thereto, said arms being attached to the pivoting point of said end slat, means for pivoting said slats including posts attached within said framework, the inner ends of said posts bearing against said end slat, bosses attached to said end slat, said bosses having tapered surfaces for engaging the ends of said posts, said posts being slightly off-center of the pivoting point of said end slat, said tapered surfaces providing means for compensating for said off-center arrangement, movement of said further magnetic members being adapted to pivot all of said slats.

2. A combination Venetian blind and window comprising a framework, a pair of spaced sheets of glass secured within said framework, a plurality of vertically positioned slats arranged between said sheets of glass, means for supporting said vertically positioned slats including an upper track and a lower track, chains attached to the upper and lower edges of said slats for securing said slats together, means for moving all of said slats to one side of said framework including magnetic members attached to an end slat, said end slat being pivotally mounted, further magnetic members positioned outside of said framework, means for moving said further magnetic members whereby said magnetic members will be moved to thereby move all of said slats, said magnetic members including arms attached thereto, said arms being attached to the pivoting point of said end slat, means for pivoting said slats including posts attached within said framework, the inner ends of said posts bearing against said end slat, bosses attached to said end slat, said bosses having tapered surfaces for engaging the ends of said posts, said posts being slightly off-center of the pivoting point of said end slat, said tapered surfaces providing means for compensating for said off-center arrangement, movement of said further magnetic members being adapted to pivot all of said slats, said end slat including a vertically positioned shaft attached thereto, said end slat having ears receiving said shaft, said upper track and said lower track including lengthened slots therein, substantially rectangular blocks attached to said vertically positioned shaft and received in said slots and being attached to said arms, one of said end slats including torsion means attached thereto to provide torsion between all of said slats.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,841,065 Simon Jan. 12, 1932 2,029,143 Wicks Jan. 28, 1936 2,343,813 Simon Mar. 7, 1944 2,658,570 Engel Nov. 10, 1953 2,853,130 Bechtler Sept. 23, 1958 3,008,519 Hawkins Nov. 14, 1961 3,022,549 Cummings Feb. 27, 1962 

1. A COMBINATION VENETIAN BLIND AND WINDOW COMPRISING A FRAMEWORK, A PAIR OF SPACED SHEETS OF GLASS SECURED WITHIN SAID FRAMEWORK, A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY POSITIONED SLATS ARRANGED BETWEEN SAID SHEETS OF GLASS, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID VERTICALLY POSITIONED SLATS INCLUDING AN UPPER TRACK AND A LOWER TRACK, CHAINS ATTACHED TO THE UPPER AND LOWER EDGES OF SAID SLATS FOR SECURING SAID SLATS TOGETHER, MEANS FOR MOVING ALL OF SAID SLATS TO ONE SIDE OF SAID FRAMEWORK INCLUDING MAGNETIC MEMBERS ATTACHED TO AN END SLAT, SAID END SLAT BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED, FURTHER MAGNETIC MEMBERS POSITIONED OUTSIDE OF SAID FRAMEWORK, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID FURTHER MAGNETIC MEMBERS WHEREBY SAID MAGNETIC MEMBERS WILL BE MOVED TO THEREBY MOVE ALL OF SAID SLATS, SAID MAGNETIC MEMBERS INCLUDING ARMS ATTACHED THERETO, SAID ARMS BEING ATTACHED TO THE PIVOTING POINT OF SAID END SLAT, MEANS FOR PIVOTING SAID SLATS INCLUDING POSTS ATTACHED WITHIN SAID FRAMEWORK, THE INNER 